Wayzata indigenous advisory committee votes to concur with district’s American Indian education programming

The Wayzata Indigenous Advisory Committee voted this school year to concur with Wayzata Public Schools’ American Indian education programming and state-required plan for accessing American Indian education aid, district staff told the Wayzata School Board during a Jan. 27 work session.

Director of Equity and Inclusion Solve Herde told the board: "this year, our WEAC voted yes. We are in concurrence and we are required to inform you of that." She said the committee’s vote is an annual requirement tied to the state funding stream.

The vote of concurrence allows the district to access state American Indian education aid and supports programming targeted for students whose families have identified as American Indian or Indigenous on state race-code forms. "Not this particular funding. This particular funding is very specific and stipulated by the state to be for our indigenous students," Herde said when board members asked which students the funding serves.

Why it matters: the state requires an advisory committee and a formal concurrence to draw down these designated funds. The district said the money supports culturally specific programming, consultants, language options and in-school offerings. Renee Munoz, identified as a parent and chairperson of the Wayzata Indigenous Advisory Committee, said the committee is expanding its focus to earlier grades: "They also get to learn early on the culture ... and to be part of a community that you guys ... are part of as well," Munoz said.

District staff described current and planned uses. Herde and other presenters said the funding has supported high‑school programs (including college visits and graduation gifts, which the presenters said are stipulated in state guidelines) and that the district wants to expand programming at elementary and middle school levels. The district said it provides consultants and is exploring language programming, including Ojibwe, and daytime offerings when families request them.

Staff also explained limits on who counts for the funding. Herde said families must identify as Indigenous on the state form to be counted for the allocation; federal race-code entries alone do not qualify students for this state aid. "If a family has identified that they federally, their federal race code, identifies as indigenous but they haven't listed it as state, that doesn't count in the funding," Herde said.

Budget and administration: Herde told the board the district’s budget tied to the WEAC programming is about $58,000 for the year, and that the state changed the baseline in recent years from a roughly $20,000 baseline to a new baseline she described as $40,000 plus an allocation per student. Becky Kittleson, the district staff member Herde named as the primary point of contact for the WEAC program, was noted as the staff lead though she was not present at the meeting.

Board members asked about outreach and participation. Herde said the district is adjusting meeting times and communication strategies to increase family participation and hopes to offer a spring field-trip day for participating students.

The work session format: board members reiterated that no board votes are taken during work sessions. The WEAC vote of concurrence is a committee action required by state rules; the board was informed rather than asked to take action during the Jan. 27 session.

What’s next: staff said the committee will continue meeting and the district will continue outreach to increase family participation and to expand programming to younger students. Herde and Munoz said they expect the committee and new staff leads to continue the work next year.